GUERRILLA GIRL
Frank Piasecki Poulsen
DENMARK, 2005, 92 minutes
North American Premiere
With the flick of a pen, a bright, young college student makes a choice that changes her life forever. Signing her name on the dotted line in a tiny hut in the jungles of Colombia, she vows to never return home nor see her loved ones again, committing herself indefinitely to the life of a soldier.
With incredible access to the training camp of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Frank Piasecki Poulsen follows twenty-one-year-old Isabel for three months, capturing in exquisite detail the harsh realities of her transformation from civilian to revolutionary.
At first, training seems like summer camp-she sleeps under the stars, hikes through the forest, and attends woodworking classes where she learns to whittle weapons. A flirtatious bonfire dance results in a long lecture from superiors about the perils of sexual activities amongst recruits.
But as the tasks become more difficult, she slowly realizes that being a revolutionary is not all fun and games. Despite her best efforts, she struggles to keep up. She is squeamish around blood. She lingers behind on training missions and can hardly hold her gun.
Repeatedly chastised by her commanding officers and shunned by her peers for her inability to follow orders, she eventually learns to let go of her individual identity and transforms from college girl to woman warrior, becoming a full-fledged member of the largest guerrilla army in Latin America.
-Amy Dotson
DIRECTOR BIO
Frank Piasecki Poulsen graduated from The National Film School of Denmark in 2001. Before entering the Film School he worked at a local TV network in Copenhagen. Since graduation Poulsen has been working as director, photographer and scriptwriter, primarily for DR TV. The themes of his work include youth, politics and third world issues.
Print Source:
Anne Marie KŸrstein
Danish Film Institute
55 Gothersgade
DK-1123
Copenhagen Denmark
+45.33.74.3400
kurstein@dfi.dk
6/14 at 7:30 PM
6/15 at 11:00 AM
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